Mumbai may buy flowers worth Rs 1.5 crore for Lakshmi Puja as Dadar market sees heavy rush

Mumbaikars may buy flowers worth about Rs 1.5 crore for Lakshmi Puja this Diwali. Flower traders say purchases are expected to reach Rs 1.5 crore. Demand for flowers has risen for the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity and happiness, and the Minatai Thackeray flower market in Dadar is bustling. Farmers and traders are both pleased with the higher demand.

According to traders, the flower business was also good this year during Ganeshotsav and Dussehra. Demand has been strong since Navratri and has risen further during Diwali. On normal days about 20 truckloads of flowers arrive at the Dadar market, but during Diwali 40 to 50 trucks are arriving every day. The wedding season begins after Diwali, and traders hope demand for flowers will continue then as well.

Flower consumption rises sharply during Diwali. The Dadar market supplies flowers to the whole of Mumbai. Dinesh Punde, president of the Minatai Thackeray flower market, said good rain early this year improved flower yields, so the market has ample stock. He also said drought-like conditions in some parts of the state could affect flower production in the coming months.

Saffron-coloured marigold is in greatest demand during Diwali. Flowers are coming to Mumbai from several districts of Maharashtra, including Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Nashik, Pune and Jalna. Marigold is widely used to decorate homes and shops, and also to make torans from paddy stalks and mango leaves. Lotus flowers are also being bought in large numbers for Lakshmi Puja.

Flower prices have risen slightly. Marigold is selling at Rs 100 a kg, chrysanthemum at Rs 100 a kg and tuberose at Rs 120 a kg. Champa is available at Rs 300 per hundred. The Lakshmi lotus is priced at Rs 100 each and the Vishnu lotus at Rs 50 each. Roses, hibiscus, lilies, bela, jasmine, bijli, kangra and capri flowers are also selling well. Among exotic flowers, demand remains steady for gerbera, anthurium, orchids, dahlia, gladiolus, carnations and Chinese flowers.

Farmers' share in the flower market is also visible this year. Many growers are bypassing middlemen, loading their flowers directly onto trucks, bringing them to Mumbai and selling them on Senapati Road outside the Dadar flower market. This gives farmers a chance to reach customers and traders directly. The rising demand for flowers in the busy Diwali season has boosted business in the market.